MY Ady Gil

History
NZ
Name	Earthrace (2006-09) Ady Gil (2009-10)
Owner	Pete Bethune
Port of registry	Auckland, New Zealand
Builder	Calibre Boats
Laid down	January 2005
Launched	February 22, 2006
Fate	Reported as sinking on January 7, 2010 at 17:20 GMT after collision with Shōnan Maru 2.
General characteristics
Type	Trimaran
Displacement	13 ton
Length	Template:Ft to m
Beam	Template:Ft to m
Draught	Template:Ft to m
Draft	Template:Ft to m
Propulsion	2 x 350 kW (540 hp) Cummins Mercruise Gearboxes: ZF 305A (single speed)
Speed	45 knots (83.3 km/h)
Range	3,000 nautical miles (5,556 km) from 10,000 litres (2,200 imp gal) of fuel capacity
Complement	4–8

Ady Gil, previously known as Earthrace, was a 78-foot (24 m), wave-piercing trimaran, which was originally created as part of a project to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat. The vessel was powered by biodiesel fuel, but was also capable of running on regular diesel fuel. It used other eco-friendly materials, such as vegetable oil lubricants, hemp composites, and non-toxic anti-fouling, and had features such as bilge water filters.

The first attempt at the global circumnavigation record in 2007 was ill-fated. The boat several times encountered mechanical problems, and collided with a Guatemalan fishing boat, killing one of the other boat's crew. While the crew of the Earthrace was later absolved of any responsibility, the delay forced the restart of the record attempt, while more mechanical issues later aborted it. In 2008, the second journey proved successful - though again, numerous technical problems had to be overcome before the record was achieved, with the vessel finally making the return to Sagunto, Spain after just under 61 days on June 27, 2008.

In late 2009, it was announced that the boat, now repainted black and named Ady Gil, would be participating in anti-whaling operations under the lead of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. During operations in the Southern Ocean, the vessel and the Japanese whaling support vessel MV Shōnan Maru 2 collided on January 6, 2010, resulting in loss of the Ady Gil's bow and one injured crew member. Each side blamed the other for causing the collision, and government agencies will be investigating the incident. The crew of the Ady Gil were taken off and the salvage operation was abandoned. The vessel was reported as sinking on January 7, 2010.

Design

The vessel was designed by LOMOcean Design (formerly Craig Loomes Design Group) and built by Calibre Boats in Auckland, New Zealand. The wave-piercing trimaran design allowed for improved speed and stability. The boat was fully submersible, able to cut through 15-metre (49 ft) waves and go 7 m (23 ft) underwater. The hull was composed of a composite carbon fibre and kevlar with a non-toxic anti-fouling paint.

The vessel was powered by two 540 horsepower Cummins Mercruiser engines that ran on an animal fat and vegetable oil mix biodiesel. It could be run on diesel, biodiesel or blends. To cool and provide fresh air to the engines, intakes were located on two dramatic fins. Despite its design as an "eco-boat", David MacKay calculates that it has significantly greater energy consumption per passenger-kilometre than a jet-ski or the QE2.

It cost $2.5 million, which was mostly funded by sponsors. When asked, "Regrets about the cost of it all?" skipper Pete Bethune replied "No...You know, I do have the coolest boat in the world."

As Earthrace in Hamburg, Germany 2007.

Record attempts

Earthrace was intended to showcase environmentally friendly technologies. It broke the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a motorized boat. It set the record in 60 days 23 hours and 49 minutes. This beat the record set by the Cable and Wireless Adventurer (now the Ocean 7 Adventurer) by 13 days 21 hours and 9 minutes.

However, the time is still behind Orange II's overall world record of 50 days and 16 hours, which was achieved under sails instead. Also, the U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine USS Triton completed the first submerged circumnavigation of the world in 60 days 21 minutes, from February 24-April 25, 1960, covering 36,335.1 nautical miles (67,292.6 km; 41,813.7 mi) at the average speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) non-stop.

2007

The attempt originally departed from Barbados on March 10, 2007 but encountered significant delays including problems with the propellers and other mechanical problems.

A problem with an engine off Palau caused an 8-day delay because of the remoteness. On the night of March 19, 2007, while around 22 kilometres (14 mi) offshore from Guatemala, Earthrace collided with a local fishing boat. No Earthrace crew were hurt, but one of the three crew members from the fishing boat was killed. The crew was absolved of any responsibility after a 10-day investigation during which they were held in custody. The delays prevented Earthrace from completing the circumnavigation in record time, but because Earthrace took an official start time when leaving San Diego, the team decided to "restart" with this new start/finish line. They departed San Diego on April 7, 2007 and needed to return by June 21 to break the record. However, the attempt was abandoned on May 31, 2007 after a crack was discovered in the hull shortly after leaving Malaga, Spain.

Cockpit of the Earthrace.

A view of the skippers seat.

The crew rest area with eight bunk beds.

2008

After a refit at the Vulkan Shipyard at the Port of Sagunto, a second attempt on the record began at 14:35 (CET) on April 27, 2008. On board were Rob Drewett (cameraman), Adam Carlson (navigator), Mark Russel (engineer) and Pete Bethune (skipper/owner). The route for the second world record attempt and estimated time for each leg was as follows:

• Sagunto, Spain – Azores: 3 days
• Azores - Puerto Rico: 3 days
• Puerto Rico - Panama: 3 days
• Panama Manzanillo (Mexico): 3 days
• Manzanillo - San Diego: 3 days.
• San Diego - Hawaii: 5 days
• Hawaii - Majuro (Marshall Islands): 5 days
• Majuro - Koror (Palau): 5 days
• Palau - Singapore: 5 days
• Singapore - Cochin (India): 5 days
• Cochin - Salalah (Oman): 4 days
• Salalah - Suez Canal (Egypt): 4 days
• Suez Canal - Sagunto (Spain): 4 days

The boat experienced problems with the autopilot two days after departure, and then on April 30 the lift pump of the starboard engine became blocked. However, although some time was lost, the boat arrived at the Azores slightly ahead of schedule for the world record attempt and with all technical problems apparently solved.

The next two legs went without any major problems and the crew managed to bypass a big backlog of ships in the Panama Canal. On day 22 about half way to Hawaii, a severe vibration caused them to stop and after skipper Pete Bethune went under the boat in the dark with a torch to investigate, he discovered that some nylon netting was entangled in the one prop and had to be removed.

Shortly after leaving Palau on day 34, Earthrace struck submerged debris which sheared two blades off the port propeller and bent the drive shaft. This necessitated a return to Palau in order to assess the damage and remove the prop. The boat then continued to Singapore on one engine, while plans were set in motion to manufacture a new drive shaft and obtain another propeller. Once in Singapore, Earthrace was hoisted from the water in a sling and repairs were effected on the dockside in record time.

On day 48 the crew were suffering from heat and high humidity and were all affected by heat rash. At this time they had also encountered monsoon weather and their speed was much reduced due to mountainous waves. The heavy seas continued all the way to Oman and beyond before entering the Red Sea. During this stretch the boat's transponder was damaged and the marine tracker stopped working. On day 56, en route to Port Suez, the lift pump malfunctioned, limiting their speed to 16 knots. This required three hours worth of maintenance to change it.

On Friday June 27, 2008 Earthrace set a new world record for powered circumnavigation of the globe, when it crossed the finish line at 14:24 CET at Sagunto, Spain.

Cooperation with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

As the Ady Gil, docked for repairs in Hobart, Tasmania in late 2009, with the new black paint job evoking a 'stealth design', backed by special radar-scattering paint.

Rear of the Ady Gil.

Participation in 'Waltzing Matilda'

Main article: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society operations

It was announced that the Earthrace would accompany Sea Shepherd in its 2009-10 operations (named 'Waltzing Matilda') against Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Pete Bethune, the operator, said that an agreement was reached with Sea Shepherd for the boat to adopt a support role. Sea Shepherd noted that the vessel had been the only one in the fleet fast enough to keep up with all vessels of the Japanese whaling fleet.

On October 17, 2009, the Earthrace was presented to the media with a new black paint job, and it was re-named Ady Gil, after the name of a major sponsor (a Hollywood lighting-equipment magnate who had donated $1 million to the group). The new paint job and futuristic appearance of the boat itself often evoked comparisons to Batman vehicles and stealth crafts in the media.

4-8 layers of Kevlar were added to protect the hull against ice with the thickness depending on the location, with all areas under the waterline getting the extra laminations of kevlar as well as some areas above the waterline. To reduce its radar profile for the Japanese fleet, the ship was painted with a paint intended to scatter radar signals and a broadband radar which has near-zero radar emissions. Despite being referred to a a stealth craft, the Ady Gil lacks the flat sides and very sharp angles used in stealth craft to reduce the surfaces for radar to bounce off. Other electronics upgrades included FLIR cameras, Iridium satellite communications as well as an array of speakers which were intended for communication purposes. Bethune said that he intended to play songs like Tangaroa from New Zealand musician Tiki Taane to the whalers, a "growling big sort of a song about the God of the Sea who looks after us".

Sea Shepherd crew said before the journey that Ady Gil would not be used as a confrontational vessel like the Steve Irwin. However, Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson later stated in October 2009 that with a top speed of 50 knots, the vessel would be used to intercept harpoon ships and physically block them from harpooning whales, allowing Sea Shepherd to "mount the most ambitious and aggressive effort to date to obstruct the slaughter of the whales in the Southern Ocean."

Collision with the Shōnan Maru 2 and abandonment

For the wider response / legal aftermath of the collision, see Sea Shepherd Conservation Society operations

During the days before the collision, the Ady Gil harassed Japanese whaling vessels during their hunt. The crew towed ropes in an attempt to foul the propellers of the Japanese ships and pointed laser dazzlers at the crew of the Shōnan Maru 2 while using a projectile launcher to fire capsules of foul-smelling butyric acid.

On January 6, 2010 the vessel was involved in a collision at sea with the Japanese vessel Shōnan Maru 2, which was engaged in security and support for the whaling fleet. One of the Ady Gil's six crew members, a New Zealand cameraman, sustained broken ribs. Crew on three vessels, the Shōnan Maru 2, the Ady Gil, and the Bob Barker, a Sea Shepherd Conservation Society support ship, took footage of the incident, and video of the incident has been released by both the Institute of Cetacean Research and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Each side blames the other for the incident, arguing that the skipper of the other vessel must have miscalculated during a dangerous maneuver. In a statement released by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Captain Chuck Swift, who witnessed the incident from his ship, the Bob Barker, said that both vessels were stationary in the water when the Shonan Maru No. 2 "started up and then steered deliberately into the Ady Gil". Paul Watson, President of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, would later say that the Ady Gil was almost stationary in the water when the Shonan Maru No. 2 suddenly changed course and then steered deliberately into it. Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research blames the collision on Sea Shepherd, who they say were attempted to entangle their rudder and propeller by repeatedly crossing their bow with lines. The Japanese Fisheries Agency said that the Shonan Maru No. 2 had employed a water cannon to deterr the Ady Gil, but the anti-whaling vessel undertook manoeuveres like suddenly reducing speed, resulting in the collision. Opinions in news media organisations vary similarly. Some blame the Ady Gil for powering up to intentionally propel itself into the whaler's path, some accuse the Shonan Maru No. 2 of intentionally ramming a stationary vessel - with both sides basing their views primarily on the released video footage. Others place the blame more evenly.

Having sustained severe damage, Ady Gil was being towed towards the French Dumont d'Urville Station in Antarctica. While weather conditions had been reported as favorable for the salvage attempt, the process of towing the vessel was reported to have caused it to take on more water. The Institute also claimed to have recovered a number of large-size arrows floating near the wreck, arguing that these proved Sea Shepherd was willing to endanger human life with their tactics. Sea Shepherd stated that all fuel and oil had been taken off-board the drifting vessel, at risk to the crew

The captain of Ady Gil, Pete Bethune, boarded the Shōnan Maru 2 on February 15, 2010 to present a $3 million bill for his lost boat to the captain of the ship. He was taken into custody by the ship's crew and was taken to Japan, where he was arrested for trespassing on March 12. According to Japanese Fisheries Ministry official Toshinori Uoya, Bethune was initially being held in a room by himself with 24-hour guards posted outside.In regard of his treatment during the journey from Southern Ocean to Japan, Bethune told a consular officer from the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo by telephone that he was being accommodated in his own cabin and had freedom of movement, and that he had regular meals and was being cared for well by the crew. When Bethune was removed from the whaling vessel in the Port of Tokyo by the Japanese Coast Guard, in accordance with Japanese privacy laws, police shielded Bethune from public view with blue tarpaulins. Japan took extreme lengths to protect Mr Bethune from waiting reporters and protestors. The news images of a hooded Bethune being taken into custody shocked his wife.

Potential Ady Gil 2

The financial loss of the Ady Gil was estimated at about $1.5 million. A donor has reportedly offered $1 million towards the construction of the Ady Gil 2, and Sea Shepherd later announced their plans to build a new Ady Gil by December, paid for by the same (naming) sponsor, who also organised a fundraising event for the group after the loss of the boat. The new version of the Ady Gil would likely be improved for use by Sea Shepherd, and cost between $3 and $5 million. However, the group also noted the option of acquiring an existing vessel instead, and renaming it Ady Gil 2.

External links

• Official website (Earthrace record-attempt / vessel website)
• Interview with Skipper Pete Bethune (from the 'omegataupodcats.net' website, taken before involvement with Sea Shepherd)

Videos of collision

• Video of the crash taken from the Shonan Maru No. 2
• Video of the crash taken from the Bob Barker
• Video of the crash taken from the Ady Gil